Can this not end up as a public/private argument please.
LRC report published today, but it's comments by Kieran Mulvey that are of most interest:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1028/breaking29.htm
It's obvious he's gearing up for being busy soon, but is this a bit of a plea or even a sign of how the LRC will advise: cuts are necessary. He's ruled out both expansion and status quo, so all that is left is cuts.
Just to show full fairness, I have taken this small quote from a larger one. He does also state that essential services should only be looked at in terms of efficiencies. However, he doesn't clarify (and in fairness isn't in a position to) what a more efficient service means, i.e. he doesn't rule out cuts being needed.
While I would share in the sentiment from Mulveny I'm not sure it's prudent for the Chair of the LRC to be pre-empting any industrial action with statements. And this isn't the first time either in this debate, what's interesting is he seems to have changed his views from just over a month ago where he stated on Newstalk that there should be punishment of Bankers and greater tax on higher earners before cuts.
Is it suspicious that the Minister "welcomes" the comments?
LRC report published today, but it's comments by Kieran Mulvey that are of most interest:
"We cannot continue simply to expand our public services or maintain them at current levels for the foreseeable future. We must decide what services are necessary and a priority and, therefore, what is financially sustainable,”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/1028/breaking29.htm
It's obvious he's gearing up for being busy soon, but is this a bit of a plea or even a sign of how the LRC will advise: cuts are necessary. He's ruled out both expansion and status quo, so all that is left is cuts.
Just to show full fairness, I have taken this small quote from a larger one. He does also state that essential services should only be looked at in terms of efficiencies. However, he doesn't clarify (and in fairness isn't in a position to) what a more efficient service means, i.e. he doesn't rule out cuts being needed.
While I would share in the sentiment from Mulveny I'm not sure it's prudent for the Chair of the LRC to be pre-empting any industrial action with statements. And this isn't the first time either in this debate, what's interesting is he seems to have changed his views from just over a month ago where he stated on Newstalk that there should be punishment of Bankers and greater tax on higher earners before cuts.
Is it suspicious that the Minister "welcomes" the comments?